We recently found that a significant number of otherwise credit-worthy people may have been denied access to credit cards because they did not have their own income independent of their spouse. We thought this issue deserved further consideration.

In December, the Federal Reserve approved new rules curtailing some -- but by no means all -- of the more egregious practices of the credit card industry. But, surprisingly, the rules are not scheduled to go into effect until July 2010. Why this 18-month long delay before making the banks clean up their acts? READ MOREThe Credit Card Debt Crisis: The Next Economic Domino Hot on the heels of the banking crisis, the employment crisis, and the mortgage/foreclosure crisis, the country is on the verge of experiencing a credit card crisis. Yet the same banks that have been bailed out with billions of taxpayer dollars, have been turning around and gouging their most vulnerable customers. READ MOREWatch: Arianna on Countdown Discussing Obama's Approach to National SecurityWatch: Arianna Discusses Obama's Trip to Canada on CTV's Question Period

We can't afford to watch consumers' finances dragged down by unfair credit card practices. It wouldn't be fair in any situation, but at a time of such national financial turmoil, it's an even bigger threat to our economy.